‘‘Doing the right thing is also the smart thing’’
‘Doing the right thing is also the smart thing’
As nominations for CA Rising Star 2026 open, 2025 winner Laura Mason CA reports on her experience at the One Young World Summit in Munich. Already seeking to improve mental health and help migrants to acclimatise, the Grant Thornton Financial Modelling and Data Analyst is determined to use her skillset ‘to show that performance and purpose can go hand in hand’
Words: Ryan Herman
Photography: James Lincoln
As nominations for CA Rising Star 2026 open, 2025 winner Laura Mason CA reports on her experience at the One Young World Summit in Munich. Already seeking to improve mental health and help migrants to acclimatise, the Grant Thornton Financial Modelling and Data Analyst is determined to use her skillset ‘to show that performance and purpose can go hand in hand’
Words: Ryan Herman
Photography: James Lincoln
Last month Laura Mason CA became the latest ICAS member to attend the One Young World Summit, having been named CA Rising Star 2025. (Nominations for the CA Rising Stars 2026 are now open – see panel at the bottom of this page.)
All the previous attendees have one thing in common – other than being CAs, of course. They all came back enthusing about the profound effect of going to the four-day conference, which is the world’s leading global forum for young leaders. To give one example, ICAS Vice President Jonny Jacobs CA said that going to the 2017 summit in Bogota “is where I found my purpose”.
And Mason is no exception. “There were so many things that changed my way of thinking,” she says.
One Young World brings together around 2,200 delegates from more than 190 countries, along with a host of guest speakers which this year included Sir Bob Geldof, actor/activist Terry Crews, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa and rugby legend Francois Pienaar. Each day was devoted to an individual theme, covering leadership, sustainability, education and, on the final day, peace.
Queen Rania of Jordan
Queen Rania of Jordan
“What really stood out for me was the courage and conviction of the delegates and the speakers,” says Mason. “For example, hearing Queen Rania of Jordan speaking with humanity and moral clarity about human beings not forgetting their empathy, when discussing the violent way in which people take sides in current international conflicts. I had goosebumps just listening to her.
“Listening to stories from people who’d lived through conflicts really reminded me that peace is an active choice. I think that too often we hear people using their public platform in the media to focus on the broken wine glasses in the ballroom of the Titanic rather than the iceberg.
“Humans won’t be replaced by machines, but they will be replaced by other humans who know how to leverage those machines. So understanding data isn’t just technical, it is strategic”
“So, yes, the summit challenged my thinking but also reinforced the idea that leadership isn’t about status, it is about service. Going forward, I’d really like to use my skills and my platform to create space for others and drive meaningful change.”
To put that into context, Mason speaks about using “business to amplify impact”.
“As an accountant, we speak with numbers, and that’s a way of making change happen faster, because the world is profit-driven and cash is king. So, if positive, sustainable change is linked to profit, then it will happen faster. It will amplify it.”
To illustrate her point, she highlights a session presented by Standard Chartered, explaining how reskilling an employee can save a company up to $49,000 (£37,000) compared with hiring externally. The benefits go beyond keeping somebody in their job – it also affords them an opportunity to apply their experience and skillset in a new way that profits employee and employer alike.
Positive impact
At a time when we hear about governments and big business weakening targets on climate, Mason says: “Energy efficiency isn’t about climate goals. It also directly reduces operational costs, making sustainability a smart financial decision. So it’s not just about climate goals, but also financially it makes sense to save on energy costs.”
This goes right to the heart of Mason’s role at Grant Thornton where she specialises in financial modelling and data analytics in the public sector. The scope of that work is wide enough to include hospitals, the Elizabeth Line, offshore wind farms and generating energy from waste plants.
Last month Laura Mason CA became the latest ICAS member to attend the One Young World Summit, having been named CA Rising Star 2025. (Nominations for the CA Rising Stars 2026 are now open – see panel at the bottom of this page.)
All the previous attendees have one thing in common – other than being CAs, of course. They all came back enthusing about the profound effect of going to the four-day conference, which is the world’s leading global forum for young leaders. To give one example, ICAS Vice President Jonny Jacobs CA said that going to the 2017 summit in Bogota “is where I found my purpose”.
And Mason is no exception. “There were so many things that changed my way of thinking,” she says.
One Young World brings together around 2,200 delegates from more than 190 countries, along with a host of guest speakers which this year included Sir Bob Geldof, actor/activist Terry Crews, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa and rugby legend Francois Pienaar. Each day was devoted to an individual theme, covering leadership, sustainability, education and, on the final day, peace.
Queen Rania of Jordan
Queen Rania of Jordan
“What really stood out for me was the courage and conviction of the delegates and the speakers,” says Mason. “For example, hearing Queen Rania of Jordan speaking with humanity and moral clarity about human beings not forgetting their empathy, when discussing the violent way in which people take sides in current international conflicts. I had goosebumps just listening to her.
“Listening to stories from people who’d lived through conflicts really reminded me that peace is an active choice. I think that too often we hear people using their public platform in the media to focus on the broken wine glasses in the ballroom of the Titanic rather than the iceberg.
“Humans won’t be replaced by machines, but they will be replaced by other humans who know how to leverage those machines. So understanding data isn’t just technical, it is strategic”
“So, yes, the summit challenged my thinking but also reinforced the idea that leadership isn’t about status, it is about service. Going forward, I’d really like to use my skills and my platform to create space for others and drive meaningful change.”
To put that into context, Mason speaks about using “business to amplify impact”.
“As an accountant, we speak with numbers, and that’s a way of making change happen faster, because the world is profit-driven and cash is king. So, if positive, sustainable change is linked to profit, then it will happen faster. It will amplify it.”
To illustrate her point, she highlights a session presented by Standard Chartered, explaining how reskilling an employee can save a company up to $49,000 (£37,000) compared with hiring externally. The benefits go beyond keeping somebody in their job – it also affords them an opportunity to apply their experience and skillset in a new way that profits employee and employer alike.
Positive impact
At a time when we hear about governments and big business weakening targets on climate, Mason says: “Energy efficiency isn’t about climate goals. It also directly reduces operational costs, making sustainability a smart financial decision. So it’s not just about climate goals, but also financially it makes sense to save on energy costs.”
This goes right to the heart of Mason’s role at Grant Thornton where she specialises in financial modelling and data analytics in the public sector. The scope of that work is wide enough to include hospitals, the Elizabeth Line, offshore wind farms and generating energy from waste plants.
“I use technical skills to help deliver value for money outcomes and deliver new procurements to help update the services to new operators and get better value for money for the public sector,” she says. “The CA tools I learnt allow me to translate this complex financial data into meaningful insight.
“A lot of my work is quantitative, data driven, so I want to embed this idea of ‘impact’ into the core of the financial models that I work with, and to highlight how investments in people, the planet and innovation can drive long-term value.
“I want to show that doing the right thing is also the smart thing. There was a phrase I heard that really resonated with me, which was that we didn’t inherit the world from our ancestors, we borrowed it from the next generation. I think that’s beautiful. It’s a message that means that we’re custodians for another generation, and we need to ensure what we do leaves the world in a better place for the next one.”
Data analysis is now part of the ICAS syllabus, but wasn’t available when Mason trained. So is she somewhat jealous of the current and future cohorts of ICAS students?
“Yes, very!” she admits. “I feel like data analysis when I was training to be a CA was more like counting how many biscuits were left in a break room.
“Joking aside, this is a truly critical skill. Humans won’t be replaced by machines, but they will be replaced by other humans who know how to leverage those machines. So understanding data isn’t just technical, it is strategic. It helps people to tell the stories behind the numbers and make better decisions. And I’d have loved to have had that as part of my syllabus, rather than having to learn it by myself.”
Global outlook
Mason’s route to becoming a CA was somewhat less than conventional: “I grew up in Paris. My mother is French and my father is English, so I grew up with both languages at home, and it meant I had a more international outlook.
“I began my career working at the British Embassy in Paris, focusing on international trade. It was a fascinating environment with lots of discussion about policy and global dialogue on a daily basis, but I felt I didn’t really speak the language of business.
“I wanted to really understand the key drivers of business decisions, and know more of what these terms mean in more detail. I was genuinely intrigued by how a business operated, but I also wanted my work to have public impact.”
Mason’s next move was to EY and the commencement of her ICAS training, which she later completed at Grant Thornton. Since qualifying as a CA, she has maintained close links through the London Area Network.
“For me, it’s not just about networking, it’s about continuous learning and being part of a community. And I really enjoy meeting other like-minded people who’ve been through the same career path as me. That gives us something in common and that community is something we can then leverage to grow in our careers.”
“I use technical skills to help deliver value for money outcomes and deliver new procurements to help update the services to new operators and get better value for money for the public sector,” she says. “The CA tools I learnt allow me to translate this complex financial data into meaningful insight.
“A lot of my work is quantitative, data driven, so I want to embed this idea of ‘impact’ into the core of the financial models that I work with, and to highlight how investments in people, the planet and innovation can drive long-term value.
“I want to show that doing the right thing is also the smart thing. There was a phrase I heard that really resonated with me, which was that we didn’t inherit the world from our ancestors, we borrowed it from the next generation. I think that’s beautiful. It’s a message that means that we’re custodians for another generation, and we need to ensure what we do leaves the world in a better place for the next one.”
Data analysis is now part of the ICAS syllabus, but wasn’t available when Mason trained. So is she somewhat jealous of the current and future cohorts of ICAS students?
“Yes, very!” she admits. “I feel like data analysis when I was training to be a CA was more like counting how many biscuits were left in a break room.
“Joking aside, this is a truly critical skill. Humans won’t be replaced by machines, but they will be replaced by other humans who know how to leverage those machines. So understanding data isn’t just technical, it is strategic. It helps people to tell the stories behind the numbers and make better decisions. And I’d have loved to have had that as part of my syllabus, rather than having to learn it by myself.”
Global outlook
Mason’s route to becoming a CA was somewhat less than conventional: “I grew up in Paris. My mother is French and my father is English, so I grew up with both languages at home, and it meant I had a more international outlook.
“I began my career working at the British Embassy in Paris, focusing on international trade. It was a fascinating environment with lots of discussion about policy and global dialogue on a daily basis, but I felt I didn’t really speak the language of business.
“I wanted to really understand the key drivers of business decisions, and know more of what these terms mean in more detail. I was genuinely intrigued by how a business operated, but I also wanted my work to have public impact.”
Mason’s next move was to EY and the commencement of her ICAS training, which she later completed at Grant Thornton. Since qualifying as a CA, she has maintained close links through the London Area Network.
“For me, it’s not just about networking, it’s about continuous learning and being part of a community. And I really enjoy meeting other like-minded people who’ve been through the same career path as me. That gives us something in common and that community is something we can then leverage to grow in our careers.”
Education
Studied at University of Oxford
2017
Worked as an intern at the British Embassy in Paris, followed by an internship at the Home Office
2019
Trained with EY, moving to Deloitte in 2021, then Grant Thornton, qualifying in 2024 and promoted to Assistant Manager, Financial Modelling & Data Analysis
2022
Joined Youth4Ocean as Young Ocean Advocate
2025
Named CA Rising Star 2025, attending the One Young World Summit in Munich
Education
Studied at University of Oxford
2017
Worked as an intern at the British Embassy in Paris, followed by an internship at the Home Office
2019
Trained with EY, moving to Deloitte in 2021, then Grant Thornton, qualifying in 2024 and promoted to Assistant Manager, Financial Modelling & Data Analysis
2022
Joined Youth4Ocean as Young Ocean Advocate
2025
Named CA Rising Star 2025, attending the One Young World Summit in Munich
In fact, Mason has her membership of the London Area Network to thank for being nominated for CA Rising Stars. Another member of the network, David Wilson CA, recognised her outstanding promise as somebody motivated to make a difference beyond the workplace.
For example, she has been developing a mental health app, inspired by the situation of a friend who was struggling, but couldn’t get access to expert help. Immigration has become one of the dominant and most divisive issues in modern Britain, and one of the many problems has been processing arrivals. Mason is working on another app, this one designed to make it easier for newcomers to the UK to access local council services, hopefully eradicating some of the pain points involved in moving to a new community.
Laura Mason CA has designed an app to help new immigrants access council services
Laura Mason CA has designed an app to help new immigrants access council services
So how did Mason feel about being named CA Rising Star for 2025?
“My first reaction was that it was an incredible honour and a very humbling experience, because I recognised that I was competing with incredibly talented people on an international level. It is not just a reflection of me and my efforts, but also the support of my team and mentors and the people who’ve helped me both at work and outside of it to get to this point. It really motivates me to keep pushing to achieve more and hopefully contribute to more meaningful change in our industry.”
“For me, the London Area Network is not just about networking, it’s about continuous learning and being part of a community. And that community is something we can then leverage to grow in our careers”
Indeed, as she concludes, Mason is determined to use her platform as CA Rising Star 2025 to leave a positive legacy.
“I’d really like to continue using data and financial modelling to shape systems that deliver real-world impact, whether that’s improving transport infrastructure, accelerating energy transition or designing funding models in mental health or climate resilience. I also want to use AI ethically, to build tools that make public sector decision-making more transparent and responsive.
“I’d also like to give back to the next generation and mentor future changemakers, to help them see that finance is not just a technical skill but a powerful toolkit for social progress. I want to show that performance and purpose can go hand in hand.”
Learn more about your ICAS area network
In fact, Mason has her membership of the London Area Network to thank for being nominated for CA Rising Stars. Another member of the network, David Wilson CA, recognised her outstanding promise as somebody motivated to make a difference beyond the workplace.
For example, she has been developing a mental health app, inspired by the situation of a friend who was struggling, but couldn’t get access to expert help. Immigration has become one of the dominant and most divisive issues in modern Britain, and one of the many problems has been processing arrivals. Mason is working on another app, this one designed to make it easier for newcomers to the UK to access local council services, hopefully eradicating some of the pain points involved in moving to a new community.
Laura Mason CA has designed an app to help new immigrants access council services
Laura Mason CA has designed an app to help new immigrants access council services
So how did Mason feel about being named CA Rising Star for 2025?
“My first reaction was that it was an incredible honour and a very humbling experience, because I recognised that I was competing with incredibly talented people on an international level. It is not just a reflection of me and my efforts, but also the support of my team and mentors and the people who’ve helped me both at work and outside of it to get to this point. It really motivates me to keep pushing to achieve more and hopefully contribute to more meaningful change in our industry.”
“For me, the London Area Network is not just about networking, it’s about continuous learning and being part of a community. And that community is something we can then leverage to grow in our careers”
Indeed, as she concludes, Mason is determined to use her platform as CA Rising Star 2025 to leave a positive legacy.
“I’d really like to continue using data and financial modelling to shape systems that deliver real-world impact, whether that’s improving transport infrastructure, accelerating energy transition or designing funding models in mental health or climate resilience. I also want to use AI ethically, to build tools that make public sector decision-making more transparent and responsive.
“I’d also like to give back to the next generation and mentor future changemakers, to help them see that finance is not just a technical skill but a powerful toolkit for social progress. I want to show that performance and purpose can go hand in hand.”
Learn more about your ICAS area network
Call for CA Rising Stars 2026
- Do you know an exceptional CA who will be 35 or under on 1 June 2026? Or are you yourself that CA? If so, you can nominate them – or yourself – for CA Rising Stars 2026. Entries are now open.
- There are four categories – Changemaker, Innovator in Technology, Ethical Leader and the new category, Community and Social Value – as well as the overall Rising Star 2026.
- The winners will be announced at a special ceremony in London on 4 June 2026.
Learn more about CA Rising Stars 2026 and submit your nomination here
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